Snap-fastener.



C. W. LORD.

SNAP FASTENER- APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. ms,

' Patented July 31, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. LORD, OF YROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H.CRANS'ION, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND.

SNAP-FASTENER.

Application filed. November 4, 1916.

T 0 all whom '56 may concern Be it known that I, Crmnnns lV. LORD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Snap-Fae teners, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in snapfasteners, and pertains more particularly to snap fasteners employed inconnection with gloves and garments, and the method of making same.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a method of making thefemale members of snap fasteners from a single blank and from a singleuniform thickness of sheet metal, which method can be easily and quicklypractised so as to expeditiously and economically form the members.

Further, the invention aims to provide a method in which a series ofblanks are successively and initially formed in a continuous manner andthen separated to complete the formation of the fasteners.

Other and further objects will later herein appear and be manifested inthe course of the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pair of rollsfor initially acting on the strip of metal.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the strip after having been actedupon by the rolls.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 38 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a plan view of one of the fasteners upon completion, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The invention is practised by use of a pair of rolls 1, and 2, thesurfaces of which are so configured or cut as to form circular raisedportions or ribs 3 and at on the sheet metal strip S. Preferably infollowing the method, a long strip is used upon which a series of theribs are formed as shown in Fig. 2 by passing the strip continuouslybetween th rolls. The rolls are also so shaped and related as to formthin webs 5 and 6 between the circular raised portions or ribs, whilethe ribs themselves are thickened Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Serial No. 129,622.

and are preferably of substantially circular cross-section.

The blank having assumed the form depicted in Fig. 2, is next placed ina press which has suitable cutters so as to cutout or remove the centralthin web (3, and to trim the peripheral edges, and at the same time toform the cut-outs 7. These cut-outs 7 provide the fastener with thefingers or parts 8 which serve to flexibly connect the central rib 3 tothe outer rib a. As will be understood the central rib 3 is now in theform of arc-shaped parts or separate jaws which grip the male member ofthe fastener when the latter is introduced through the opening 9.

Finally, the fasteners are placed in a rumble or the like and tumbled toremove the rough edges which are sometimes present incident to thecutting.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention involvespractically but two steps, namely, first the formation of the ribs andthinned webs, and second the cut ting away of the inner or central weband the slitting of the central rib and the outer web to form the usualresilient fingers which grip the head forming the male fastener. Sincethe invention is practised with a blank possessed of uniform thickness,and any number of ribs may be formed thereon, de pending on the lengthof the blank, it will be apparent that a great saving of time iseffected, since after the formation of the ribs, the blank can be fedstep-by-step into a cutting press or the like to effect the cuttingoperations mentioned in the foreging.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. The herein-described method of makingsnap fasteners, which consists in first passing a blank between tworolls to form same with a central web and inner and outer circularthickened ribs connected by a second web, then in removing the centralweb and cutting the other web and the inner rib to form a series offingers which flexibly support the cut inner rib.

2. The herein described method of making snap fasteners which consistsin forming inner and outer circular ribs and a thin central web and athin connecting outer web on a piece of metal, then in removing thecentral part of the web and cutting the outer web and the inner ribwhereby to form a divided inner rib connected to the outer rib by a series of spaced fingers.

3. The herein described method of making snap fasteners, which consistsin forming raised circular inner and outer ribs on a sheet metal blankand in thinning the blank to form an inner web and an outer web betweenthe inner and outer ribs, and then in removing the inner part of the weband cutting the outer rib and outer part of the web to form a series offingers connecting the cut inner rib to the outer rib.

4:. The herein described method of making snap fasteners which consistsin subjecting a blank of uniform thickness to pressure to form raisedinner and outer ribs thereon with an inner web and an outer web each ofless thickness than that of the original blank, and finally in removingthe central part of the web and cutting the inner rib and outer part ofthe web to form fingers.

5. The herein-described method of making snap fasteners, which consistsin forming inner and outer ribs respectively alined on the oppositefaces of a blank and an inner web and an outer connecting web, and thenin removing the inner part of the web and the material surrounding theouter ribs and in cutting the inner rib and outer part of the web toform fingers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. LORD.

Vitnesses ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent mav be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

